While underscoring Sialkot’s global industrial significance, contribution to national kitty and its geographical prominence on Friday President Sialkot Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI) Muhammad Ashraf Malik urged government to declare Sialkot status as Division for Sialkot, Norwal and Gujrat districts.
The 2017 Census of Pakistan shows a total population of Sialkot,Norowal and Gujrat districts as 8.4 millions whereas there are five tehsils in Sialkot district including Daska, Pasrur, Sambrial and Sialkot, three tehsils of Norwal district includes Shakargarh, Zafarwal and Norwal, three tehsils of Gujrat district are Kharian, Sarai Alamgir and Gujrat. Currently all the three districts are part of Gujranwala division in the province of Punjab.
Malik issued a press release on Friday saying the divisional status for Sialkot has been a longstanding demand of dewellers of the district. Terming the district as a perfect territory for being awarded status of the division he said three districts including Sialkot, Narowal and Gujrat could fall under the jurisdiction of Sialkot division. Malik further informed there is international airport, dry port, Export Processing Zone, tannery zone, Sports Industry Development Centre, Business & Commerce Centre and a highly value-added export-oriented sector in the vicinity.
President Malik expressed that district Sialkot retains a population of 3.9 million, adding the vicinity is also known as the home to roaming ambassadors of Pakistan. “The exporters who, with their relentless efforts, have made their district and the country, renowned internationally which is not only a matter of pride for the Punjab province but also the beloved country”, Malik highlighted the fact.
He added the region held importance because of foreign travellers who are visiting the city owing to their business commitments and also due to the prospect of religious tourism thanks to the opening of Kartarpur Corridor. While sharing that the district was depositing substantial revenue of USD 2.5 billion annually for national exchequer through exports, Malik added that the area was playing a pivotal role in promoting business and trade activities in the region.
Urging Prime Minister Imran Khan, Punjab Governor Ch Sarwar, and Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar to grant division status to Sialkot Malik expressed the divisional status is the basic right of Sialkot as it fulfils all official requirements for the status. He was of the view that the district has a heap of issues that could only be managed and resolved if it is awarded its divisional infrastructure and bureaucratic machinery. He said that this status could help boost the socio-economic and human development activities in the Sialkot region.
